Corruption in government

Corruption in government

As a citizen, (former president) Soeharto obviously has the
right to tell his side of the story regarding allegations of
corruption and to present his facts to the public. On the other
hand, the government, which has been mandated by the people to
act, has the authority to examine whether the allegations
regarding Soeharto's wealth are correct.

It would, in this context, be proper for the government to
apply the principle of a reversal of the burden of proof from the
plaintiff to the accused. This would mean that Soeharto, his
family and his cronies cannot just wait for people and the
government to prove their case, but they must explain how they
acquired their current wealth.

So far, as we have seen, Soeharto and the government as
represented by Attorney General A.M. Ghalib have challenged the
public to prove the existence of the former president's acquired
wealth. On Friday, for example, Soeharto merely filled out a form
declaring his wealth, as President B.J. had Habibie requested.
But although this could be used as a starting point for a further
investigation, it is not enough. This is all the more true since
the government investigators appear to prefer to take a passive
attitude by asking people to justify their claims.

We believe it would be useful for the government to actuate a
breakthrough with regard to the fight against corruption,
collusion and nepotism. President B.J. Habibie and all the
members of his Cabinet, for example, could make public their
wealth, including how they acquired it, for everyone to know.

As people appear to be highly doubtful of the government's
determination to combat corruption, such a transparent attitude
on the part of the authorities would provide useful shock therapy
to quell the skepticism that at present exists among the public.

We are certain such a step would be highly appreciated and get
the full support of the people. Hopefully it would also prompt
Soeharto to explain how he acquired his possessions, thereby
preventing further questioning by the public.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta